New
treaty allows children to file complaints with UN for abuse of their rights

by Joseph
Earnest April 14, 2014

Newscast Media
WASHINGTON—United Nations child rights experts today hailed a new treaty that
allows children to complain directly to the world body about alleged
violations of their rights.

The treaty, known as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on
the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure, entered into
force today – three months after Costa Rica became the 10th country to
deposit its instrument of ratification.

"Today marks the beginning of a new era for children’s rights,"
said Kirsten Sandberg, Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of
the Child; Marta Santos Pais, the Secretary-General's Special
Representative on Violence against Children; Leila Zerrougui, the
Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed
Conflict; and Najat Maalla M'jid, UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of
children, child prostitution and child pornography.

"Children are now further empowered as this Optional Protocol
recognizes their capacity to exercise and claim their own rights," they
said in a joint statement.

The Optional Protocol will enable children and their
representatives to submit complaints to the UN Committee on the Rights
of the Child about specific violations of their rights under the
Convention, as well as under its other two Optional Protocols (on the
involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children,
child pornography and child prostitution).

But children can only complain if their government has ratified
the new Optional Protocol, and if they have exhausted all legal avenues
in their own country.

"We hope that this new treaty will give voice to children's
testimonies and help them to obtain the necessary remedy and reparation.
We applaud those States which, by ratifying this Protocol, have
confirmed their determination to improve children's access to justice,"
said the experts.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely and
rapidly ratified human rights treaty in history. Only two countries –
Somalia and the United States – have yet to ratify.

The experts hoped the new Optional Protocol will soon reach
universal ratification, saying this will signify that States take their
obligations seriously and are ready for any scrutiny concerning
individual allegations of child rights violations.

"In order to reach out to the most vulnerable and marginalised
children, the Optional Protocol should be widely publicized and
countries should inform the public and raise awareness amongst children
of their right to complain and seek redress," they added.